The Absentee eBook

’Do it, sir, this minute; I have read them;
I will be answerable to my father.’

‘Oh, as to that, my lord, I have power to sign
for your father.’ He signed the leases;
they were duly witnessed by Lord Colambre.

‘I deliver this as my act and deed,’ said
Mr. Garraghty;—­’My lord,’ continued
he, ’you see, at the first word from you; and
had I known sooner the interest you took in the family,
there would have been no difficulty; for I’d
make it a principle to oblige you, my lord.’

‘Oblige me!’ said Lord Colambre, with
disdain.

‘But when gentlemen and noblemen travel incognito,
and lodge in cabins,’ added St. Dennis, with
a satanic smile, glancing his eye on Grace, ’they
have good reasons, no doubt.’

‘Do not judge my heart by your own, sir,’
said Lord Colambre, coolly; ’no two things in
nature can, I trust, be more different. My purpose
in travelling incognito has been fully answered:
I was determined to see and judge how my father’s
estates were managed; and I have seen, compared, and
judged. I have seen the difference between the
Clonbrony and the Colambre property; and I shall represent
what I have seen to my father.’

’As to that, my lord, if we are to come to that
but I trust your lordship will suffer me to explain
these matters.—­Go about your business,
my good friends; you have all you want;—­and,
my lord, after dinner, when you are cool, I hope I
shall be able to make you sensible that things have
been represented to your lordship in a mistaken light;
and I flatter myself I shall convince you I have not
only always acted the part of a friend to the family,
but am particularly willing to conciliate your lordship’s
goodwill,’ said he, sweeping the rouleaus of
gold into a bag; ‘any accommodation in my power,
at any time.’

’I want no accommodation, sir,—­were
I starving, I would accept of none from you.
Never can you conciliate my goodwill; for you can never
deserve it.’

’If that be the case, my lord, I must conduct
myself accordingly; but it’s fair to warn you,
before you make any representation to my Lord Clonbrony,
that if he should think of changing his agent, there
are accounts to be settled between us—­that
may be a consideration.’

’No, sir; no consideration—­my father
never shall be the slave of such a paltry consideration.’

’Oh, very well, my lord; you know best.
If you choose to make an assumpsit, I’m sure
I shall not object to the security. Your lordship
will be of age soon, I know—­I’m sure
I’m satisfied—­but,’ added he
with a malicious smile, ’I rather apprehend you
don’t know what you undertake; I only premise
that the balance of accounts between us is not what
can properly be called a paltry consideration.’

‘On that point, perhaps, sir, you and I may
differ.’

’Very well, my lord, you will follow your own
principles, if it suits your convenience.’